System and method for frequency division multiple access communications

Abstract

A method and system for wireless frequency division multiple access communications in the uplink and/or downlink directions, having an improved pilot insertion scheme for single carrier based communications is provided. A first time duration for transmission of a data payload block ( 7 ) is established, and the transmission is processed using a first frequency domain or a time domain. A second time duration for transmission of at least one pilot block ( 70 ) is established, and the transmission is processed using a second frequency domain or the time domain, the second time duration ( 70 ) is not greater than the first time duration ( 7 ).

1. A method for wireless frequency division multiple access communications, the method comprising:
 establishing a first time duration for transmission of a data payload block, the transmission being processed using one of a first frequency domain and a time domain; 
 establishing a second time duration for transmission of at least one pilot block, the transmission being processed using one of a second frequency domain and the time domain, the second time duration not being greater than the first time duration; 
 applying a first fast Fourier transform having a first number of points to pilot symbols corresponding to the at least one pilot block; 
 applying a second fast Fourier transform having a second number of points to data symbols corresponding to the data payload block, the first number of points being less than the second number of points, arranging the data symbols in a cluster; and 
 using a first frequency sub-band to support the cluster in a first transmission time interval and using a second frequency sub-band different from the first frequency sub-band to support the cluster in a second transmission time interval. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless frequency division multiple access communications are uplink communications. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a plurality of pilot blocks within a transmission time interval. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising using at least one of the plurality of pilot blocks for a channel quality indicator (CQI) measurement. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of pilot blocks used for the CQI measurement is used to determine a CQI by a plurality of user element devices. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pilot symbols are used to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) operation. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pilot symbols are used to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) operation by using an orthogonal pilot arrangement between different transmit antennas. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the first time duration and the second time duration to support multiple user element devices via sub-band interleaved frequency division multiple access (IFDMA) operation. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein a pilot for a corresponding user element device uses different sub-carrier frequencies than corresponding data sub-carriers for the user element device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second time duration is less than the first time duration. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second number of points is 2 M  times the first number of points, where M is a positive integer. 
     
     
       12. A system for wireless frequency division multiple access communications, the system comprising:
 a controller adapted to:
 establish a first time duration for transmission of a data payload block, the transmission being processed using one of a first frequency domain and a time domain; and 
 establish a second time duration for transmission of at least one pilot block, the transmission being processed using one of a second frequency domain or and the time domain, the second time duration not being greater than the first time duration; 
 apply a first fast Fourier transform having a first number of points to pilot symbols corresponding to the at least one pilot block; 
 apply a second fast Fourier transform having a second number of points to data symbols corresponding to the data payload block, the first number of points being less than the second number of points, the data symbols being arranged in a cluster; and 
 using a first frequency sub-band to support the cluster in a first transmission time interval and using a second frequency sub-band different from the first frequency sub-band to support the cluster in a second transmission time interval. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless frequency division multiple access communications are uplink communications. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further adapted to provide a plurality of pilot blocks within a transmission time interval. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller uses at least one of the plurality of pilot blocks for a channel quality indicator (CQI) measurement. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of pilot blocks used for the CQI measurement is used to determine a CQI by a plurality of user element devices. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the pilot symbols are used to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) operation by using an orthogonal pilot arrangement between different transmit antennas. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the pilot symbols are used to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) operation. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is included in a base station and the controller uses the first time duration and the second time duration to support multiple user element devices via sub-band interleaved frequency division multiple access (IFDMA) operation. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein a pilot for a corresponding user element device uses different sub-carrier frequencies than corresponding data sub-carriers for the user element device. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is included as part of a mobile user element device. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second time duration is less than the first time duration. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second number of points is 2 M  times the first number of points, where M is a positive integer.